I could go into many stories about how o reilys has made my life difficult but I could also do that with a couple of auto stores. Who is the best to deal with? The main 3 that are around me are o reilys napa and advance auto do any of these hire people with any experience? It seems like all of them have at least one person who has no idea about anything you say tire they say spark plug. Just trying to figure out who will have good help if I need advice at the store. Thanks:beer:

i used to buy from advance auto. well their staff changed as i got fed up with their service. i switched to napa and havne't looked back. with cars i work on it is hard to explain to parts guys what i need so they try to be understanding as possible with me.

A line around here. I won't even walk into an Auto Zone.:texas:

I've had very good luck in all four flavors here in the great big town of South Boston, VA. Maybe it cause of the two race tracks right in this area or it helps . Anyway that's my two cent, favotire here is probably Auto Zone, but its the closest from me too, within one mile.

Anymore they don't need experience all they need to know is how to use a computer.
If it aint in the computer it didn't come on your car. If you are breathing and will work for
minimum wage you fit right in. I'm not trying to denigrate any parts store personal just
ranting. I miss the old days.

Oh don't get me started on local auto stores.. I always go to rockauto.com and find what im looking for myself, then cross reference the part number on the websites of autozone, advance auto, napa, and o'reilly. if they have what i need, I go to the store with a list of part numbers from their website and get what I need, unless it's cheaper to ship from rockauto. But that way I don't have to explain for 20 minutes, argue, deal with idiots, or drag in my 1500 page factory service manual to show them a diagram.

Also, i went through hell with O'reilly and Napa trying to get a fuel gauge sending unit for my Elky. both stores carry some made in Japan POS part that doesn't remotely fit, and they don't even have access to the ACDelco part. whereas rockauto ONLY lists the ACDelco part (the only one that actually fits).

Steering linkages.. that was another nightmare.

And I ALWAYS hear people harp about their favorite store or give their 2 cents why other chains suck... but in reality, 90% of their parts are from the same manufacturers or re-manufacturers and are listed under a store brand name like "duralast", "motor city" or "motormite" or "NAPA" to make you think there is a difference. Another reason i like rockauto is because you see the actual part brand you're getting, instead of wondering: "hmm.. I wonder if this 'Duralast' idler arm is made by Moog, or if it's some Mcquay-Norris brand piece of crap." (Just for the record, its the mcquay-norris piece of crap. that goes back to my steering linkage nightmare)

Should I get started on the "advice" you get from most of the sales people? Nah, I'll save that rant for another day, just use your imagination.

Caveat Emptor

I buy a lot of parts online, specifically for the El Camino. but we have an Advance Auto store here, with fairly knowledgeable people. And it's close by also. If I'm working on a daily driver though, I can't fool around with mail order stuff. There is an O'reilly's in this area but it has very in-experienced people there. Took me half an hour to buy a chunk of fuel hose, a real disaster, that place.
But I've said this before, any place is only as good as it's manager and it's sales people, the folks that work there.

Depends where your at, my hometown in N. Texas, Autozone was way better (Oreillys was a bunch of ricer guys). But now that I live in Central Texas, I definitely prefer Oreillys. Example: about 6 months ago I walked into Autozone at about 8am with a turn signal cam swith in my hand, took it to the counter and told the 19ish year old girl I needed one. She looked at it and said "Oh you need a stereo harness switch" I left and went to Oreillys. One of the guys at Oreillys was an auto mechanic for 10 years before the economy got him and he always knows what I need.

I've been in all of them and some can't even sell a quart of oil that fits while others could rebuild a Nascar, luck of the draw I guess!!:dontknow:
Donny

I've been in all of them and some can't even sell a quart of oil that fits while others could rebuild a Nascar, luck of the draw I guess!!:dontknow:
Donny

That's about the way it is here. We have Advance (I call it retard), Autozone, and Pep Boys (NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!). There are a few NAPA stores, but they're always way more expensive and never have what I need in stock. I do use them on occasion though.

We have AutoZone, Car Quest, NAPA and Advance. We had a few independent places but they did not survive. Like DDD said "Luck of the draw" on who works there. For price and selection it is Advance plus I know one of the counter guys. Auto Zone is great if you can get the parts yourself. NAPA was always too small to have anything. I have not been there since they expanded, never needed to. Car Quest just looks too nasty.

Most of my OEM parts come from eBay because of the selection and I can be patient.

My experience says shop them all and pick your favorite. Cultivate a relationship because driving an older truck, you will see them again.

Happy Hunting.

This is easy all of the names listed only buy oil and filters and bulbs maybe fuses. Make sure you change all items on your car to items that these place don't have and frankly don't know what they are, than you don't have to talk to them when you by small amounts of fluids. SO nothing but speed parts and quality parts they don't carry. Dail everything up it, cost more but goes fast and last longer. Deal with people that understand that you have a motor from a 89 Irock in your 66 ElCamino and a trans from a 72 Chevelle and know how to find the correct part in a book that says it can't be done. Been there done that for 30 years.

Most, if not all auto parts chains have their own website that you can access at home...look up the part you want, get their part number, go to the store, and buy it or order it. Doesn't matter how big of a moron the parts counter person is. An asst mgr at one Auto Zone store even tells his morons that if I come in with a part number then it exists in their database...he calls me the parts number guy. USE THEIR WEBSITE FIRST for what your looking for...it's easy!

Most, if not all auto parts chains have their own website that you can access at home...look up the part you want, get their part number, go to the store, and buy it or order it. Doesn't matter how big of a moron the parts counter person is. An asst mgr at one Auto Zone store even tells his morons that if I come in with a part number then it exists in their database...he calls me the parts number guy. USE THEIR WEBSITE FIRST for what your looking for...it's easy!

that is the reason I never use Carquest, they don't have an online database so i dont even bother with them

Most all major chain stores in my area. Same problems at dealership. Some of them think you are wasting their time,because of the age of your truck or the type of part you are looking for..

Hi To ALL You guys are all right in your responces about counter help, Part look-up ect..
Do your homework at home First Much easer ONLY wish i found this post B-4 I had to go through HELLLLL myself.:let_it_all_out:

It really comes down to what you know about your own car. Most of these chains hire 18 to 25 year old people but the store manager is going to know the most. When it comes to quality,I prefer NAPA and O'Rielly. NEVER buy starters,alternators,water pumps or any thing major from Autozone. The Duralast brand sucks butt!!!! Even if you have Pep Boys in your area,that would be in the top three choices!! Im juss sayin'.

A list of my toys 1) 32 ford pick-up 2) 1940 ford 2dr Sedan 3) 1980 STOCK El Camino .
When I need parts ther are two local stops. Bumper to Bumper or NAPA , both still have the old catalog system, along with some very knowledgable staff , I can usually find what I need ,or it can be ordered and delivered within two days.Best thing to do is get to know your local parts guys,or gals!
:dontknow:

Just Cant deal with AutoZone , They dont know Jack /slow/ I will need to order that ? A freekin Spark Plug ?? never have Problems With Oreillys They even del to my house if ii need them to .
here Napa Is ok But prices way higher, and if you need it now Tough ...:dontknow:

Wow...I am LUCKY! Have a NAPA and a Advance Auto staffed with good folks. I own a 50 Chevy P/U on a 69 Chevelle chassis and BB running gear...no problems, 67 ElCamino...no problems, 77 Vette...no problems, 72 Cuda...no problems. Get a military discount on top of jobber prices...:nanawrench:

The local Autozone has had a turn-over of people, so I don't go there now. But the closest place is Advance, which has people who seem to know what they need to.

I feel your pain,most autoparts stores only want a body and they don't really care if they know anything about cars and they don't understand that when people that work on them like we do we want to talk to someone thats at the very least knowledgeable about them so we don't have to educate them to get the part we need.I not saying they've got to be an engineer but when you ask for a motor mount the last thing you want to hear is where does that go!

NAPA is the only way to go round here, the ones i frequent have been owned by the same people since the 40s-50s, long before it was napa. They all pretty much sell the same grade of parts, its totally the people that make me come in and do buisness, also something to be said for buyin parts at the same store your grandpa did back in the day

bb